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Hong Kong boss Ashley Westwood says fun factor key to resurgence, but wants to see more

Hong Kong face Chinese Taipei on Saturday with the winners almost certain to advance to the 2025 EAFF finals in South Korea

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Dudu is among a new wave of players being introduced to the Hong Kong team. Photo: Sam Tsang

Ashley Westwood said making it fun to play for Hong Kong had been key to his team’s winning charge, which extended to a fourth game with their 3-0 victory over Mongolia on Sunday.

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There has been a spotlight on Westwood’s adventurous brand of football since he was appointed in August, but the Englishman has also been steadily tweaking his personnel.

Of his 20-man squad for the ongoing East Asian Football Federation Championship (EAFF) qualifiers, nine were not involved in the AFC Asian Cup finals at the beginning of this year. Only three of the starters against Mongolia began Hong Kong’s final match at the Asian finals, a 3-0 loss to Palestine.

Westwood said Hong Kong would further improve for what is shaping up as a winner-takes-all EAFF clash with Chinese Taipei on Saturday, after he had the luxury of making five substitutions during the Mongolia stroll.

“It is evident we have a really good team spirit, you can see that from the way we play and our desire to win,” Westwood said.

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“Our spirit is creating more options, players are hungry to be involved … one player told me that if anyone is left out of a squad, they are devastated, angry and upset.

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